Towing Capacity and Use of Weight Distribution System with 2012 Chevrolet Suburban  

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A vehicle such as your Suburban and the available hitches made for it can have different weight/towing capacities. Any time this occurs the lower-rated item determines overall capacity as it is the "weakest link".

Your factory hitch's safety sticker should indicate tongue weight and towing weight capacities both without and with a weight distribution/sway control system (WD/SC). Often the capacities do increase when a setup like the Equalizer # EQ37100ET is employed. But it is very rare that use of a WD/SC system would allow double the towing capacity. Usually the increase is much more modest so I suggest a double check on the WD towing capacity.

I also suggest checking your owner's manual to confirm the Suburban's base towing capacity. I found an online edition of the manual and on pages 9-76 and 9-77 it indicates the maximum trailer weights allowed for each particular version of the vehicle. I linked a shot of this part of the manual.

Both engine displacement and rear axle ratio will determine towing capacity which ranges from a low of 5K to a high of 9600-lbs. The 2500 Series 4WD long wheel base with 6.0L engine and 3.73 axle ratio can tow up to 9400-lbs. You will want to confirm your specific version so you know with certainty what it can safely tow. If you give the VIN to your local dealership they should be able to confirm.

A weight distribution/sway control setup is called for under several circumstances including when the trailer weighs more than half of the tow vehicle's weight. You will definitely want to use a system with the new trailer.

Selecting the correct WD/SC system requires knowing the trailer's actual fully loaded tongue weight (TW), with water and propane tanks filled, your food and supplies loaded and all your other gear. We have a scale # e99044 that makes this measurement process simple and easily repeatable. With a new trailer you may need a few outings to settle on your ideal cargo loading scheme. TW should be in the range of 12- to 14-percent of the trailer gross weight when it is loaded correctly.

To the trailer's actual measured TW you will need to add the weight of any cargo in the Suburban that sits behind the rear axle, such as a loaded cooler. Cargo weight behind the rear axle acts just like trailer TW and so it must be factored in. If the loaded trailer were to measure at 850-lbs, for example, and you had a full cooler in the Suburban that weighs 100-lbs, then your total TW becomes 950-lbs. You will want to select a system such that your total TW falls in the middle of its operating range.

The Equalizer # EQ37100ET works for TW from 600- to 1000-lbs. For a total TW of 950-lbs this system would be under-rated. Instead you would want to use # EQ37120ET which functions properly with TW from 800- to 1200-lbs. This would be an ideal match for a 950-to-1000-lb tongue weight.

expert reply by: Adam R

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